On 30 May, NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF) released detailed budget requests for Fiscal Year 2026, providing additional information beyond the overview given in the FY26 “skinny” President’s Budget Request (PBR). An earlier blog post by Colin Hamill breaks down the limited information in the skinny budget. In this post, we dive into the details for both NASA and NSF, highlighting the most significant impacts to our fields.

But first, I want to start with a call to action: while this budget poses an existential threat to our disciplines, we must remember that it is only a budget request. Congress has the ultimate authority to determine funding levels for these agencies through the “appropriations” process. You have an important voice in the process, and you can exercise it by contacting your congressional offices. Here are a few actions you can take today:

• We have set up an easy form that you can use to both call and email your members of Congress in just a few minutes. We especially encourage you to pick up the phone. A phone call is 32% more likely to influence your member of Congress compared to a form email. If you are nervous about speaking to someone, don’t worry! Most calls will go to voicemail, especially if you call on the weekend or after 6 pm ET (but the office will still listen to your voicemail).
• Sending an individualized email can have an even higher impact than sending form messages. If you’d like the contact information for science staffers in your congressional offices, please email [email protected].
• We encourage you to set up meetings with your congressional offices to discuss the importance of robust federal funding for the sciences, particularly for your state/district. You don’t need to travel to DC for these meetings — you can schedule them in local district offices, or over Zoom. For guidance on how to set up and prepare for these meetings, email us at [email protected], and see these slides from a recent webinar.
• For additional ideas about how you can take action, take a look at the suggested activities for our Week of Action, which took place after the skinny budget was released.
• To maximize your impact, consider reaching out to colleagues, friends, and family in other states/districts to encourage them to also take action using these resources.

As of 4 June, over 2,300 members have sent 5,140 messages to their congressional offices, and dozens of members have engaged in Zoom and in-district meetings to share the importance of federal funding for science. This has resulted in members of Congress signing letters to the appropriations committees in support of robust funding for science agencies. Thanks to your advocacy, the NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) letter got 83 House signatories and 15 Senate signatories, the NSF letter got 132 House signatories and 38 Senate signatories, and the DOE Office of Science letter got 122 House signatories and 31 Senate signatories. However, this is just the beginning of a long process, throughout which we need to continue to make our voices heard. We hope that you will join your community in advocacy if you haven’t already, and continue to engage in these actions over the coming months.

With that in mind, let’s explore the details of the budget requests. Read on for the full story, or use the table of contents below to skip ahead to specific segments.

Note that our comparisons (and those in the official budget request documents) are in relation to the FY 2024 operating plans for the agencies. While Congress passed a full-year Continuing Resolution for FY 2025, generally keeping funding levels fixed at FY24 amounts, the Executive Branch has some leeway to reduce and reallocate spending. These changes would be in FY25 Operating Plans for each agency, however, we have not yet seen final versions of such plans. For this reason, all comparisons below are relative to the operating plans for the agencies in FY24.

1. NASA
   1. Astrophysics
   2. Heliophysics
   3. Planetary Science
2. NSF
   1. Research and Related Activities
   2. Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction
3. Other Agencies

NASA

Overall, the budget suggests a 24% cut to the NASA budget, including a 47% cut (from $7.3 billion to $3.9 billion) to SMD compared to the enacted FY25 levels. Within SMD, the budget proposes a 66% cut to Astrophysics, a 46% cut to Heliophysics, a 32% cut to Planetary Science, a 52% cut to Earth Science and a 71% cut to Biological and Physical Sciences. We break down the budget within Astrophysics, Heliophysics and Planetary Science below. The budget also suggests a 42% reduction in the science staff at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. 

The stated reason for these cuts is that “the Budget also terminates multiple unaffordable missions and reduces lower priority research, resulting in a leaner Science program that reflects a commitment to fiscal responsibility.” However, as described below, many Decadal-recommended programs and projects — which represent the highest priorities of the community — have been recommended for cancellation in this budget.

Additionally, the NASA Office of STEM Engagement is zeroed out in the budget. This office includes four projects: The National Space Grant College and Fellowship Project, the Established Program to Stimulate Competitve Research (EPSCoR), the Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP), and the Next Generation STEM project.

The budget also suggests retiring the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion spacecraft, and it significantly reduces research and other activities on board the International Space Station.

Astrophysics

The 66% proposed cut to Astrophysics (from $1.5 billion to $523 million) would include the cancellation of several missions — including Chandra, Fermi, and Astrophysics Probes Future Missions — as well as the termination of the Balloon program, the Astrophysics Data Analysis Program, and US contributions to the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) and Ariel.

• Astrophysics Research
  The budget request states that “given higher priorities within the agency, the budget reduces funding for the Astrophysics Research project and the Astrophysics and Data Curation and Archival Research project. The Science Activation project will implement a strategic pause in FY 2026 as it plans for a more streamlined set of activities. Funding is eliminated for the Balloons, Astrophysics Data Analysis Program (ADAP) and Astrophysics Senior Review projects.” [emphasis added] Yet, it simultaneously notes that “data analysis will multiply the science yield from NASA’s astrophysics missions.” Moreover, it is not clear what eliminating funding for Astrophysics Senior Review projects means, as not all missions considered by the senior review are suggested for termination, and the next senior review is scheduled for February 2028. The budget request also zeroes out the Astrophysics Data Program and Astrophysics Directed Research & Technology. The request notes that “a single combined program element will be offered for all mission-specific guest observer/investigator opportunities, including both US-led missions and international missions in which the US is a partner.” The request notes that this element will consider proposals for any operating mission that does not have its own guest observer/investigator program. Finally, the request states that the ROSES solicitation will be issued in June 2025.
• Cosmic Origins
  The Hubble Space Telescope budget is reduced from $93.3 million to $85.0 million, and the James Webb Space Telescope budget is reduced from $187.0 million to $140.0 million. While there is no projected impact to funding for Hubble guest-observer grants, JWST will experience a reduction in the number of general observer grants. The NASA Hubble Fellowship Program will continue, and the HST Cycle 34 call for proposals is expected in early 2026. The budget zeroes out the funding for Cosmic Origins Supporting Research & Technology, and Cosmic Origins Future Missions. The Astrophysics Program Management funding is reduced, with a note that efficiencies and cost saving measures will be implemented. The budget also provides no funding for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), which has been proceeding with an orderly shutdown since 2022.
• Physics of the Cosmos
  Funding is reduced dramatically from $196.3 million to $1.5 million. The budget request states that “given higher priorities within the agency, the request eliminates US contributions to the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) and Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite (ULTRASAT) missions and cancels PhysCOS SR&T, Euclid, Chandra, Fermi, and the PCOS/COR Technology Management Office projects.” The only funding that remains is a reduced budget for XMM-Newton of $1.5 million.
• Exoplanet Exploration
  Funding is reduced to $156.6 million for the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope, compared to the $376.5 million it was projected to get in FY26 in the FY25 budget request. The request suggests that the mission could still launch as early as October 2026, with a baseline launch readiness date in May 2027. However, it is not clear how much funding the FY25 operating plan allocates for Roman and whether this will be sufficient to keep the mission on this schedule. The report notes that if there are significant anomalies in any of the remaining tests for the telescope, and if prior year cost reserves are not available, then the mission schedule will slip. The budget request also cancels the Exoplanet Exploration Supporting Research and Technology, Keck Operations, and Exoplanet Exploration Technology Office Management projects, and reduces funding for the Habitable Worlds Observatory Technology Maturation Project from $17.5 million in FY2024 to $3.3 million.
• Astrophysics Explorers
  The budget cancels funding for the Contributions to Ariel Spectroscopy of Exoplanets (CASE), Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI), Astrophysics Probes Future Missions, Astrophysics Explorer Science, UltraViolet Explorer, and Galactic/Extragalactic ULDB Spectroscopic Terahertz Observatory (GUSTO). It initiates closeout of the XRISM mission in FY26, and notes that NICER and Swift will also begin mission closeout in FY26 and FY27 respectively. It also reduces funding for TESS, IXPE and NuStar. SPHEREx, which launched in March, received $11.5 million in funding to conduct on-orbit science operations as part of its two-year baseline science mission. The budget request further notes that the SMEX Announcement of Opportunity will be no earlier than April 2027, and that the budget supports annual solicitations for the Astrophysics Pioneers program in 2027 and out.

Heliophysics

The 66% proposed cut to Heliophysics (from $805 million to $432.5 million) includes the cancellation of the Geospace Dynamics Constellation, the highest priority flagship mission from the past two decadal surveys; a reduction in the Heliophysics research Guest Investigator program; the cancellations of numerous additional missions, including MMS, Hinode, TIMED, EUVST, and ICON; as well as reduced funding for missions in extended operations (such as Parker Solar Probe, Solar Orbiter, and Solar Dynamics Observatory). The budget increases funding for NASA’s Space Weather program to the highest-ever proposed amount, but this is the result of transferring SOHO and STEREO from other programs into Space Weather.

• Heliophysics Research
  The budget proposal consolidates and reduces peer-reviewed science in the Guest Investigator project, cancels the Wind mission (currently in extended operations), and reduces funding for Research Range and Sounding Rockets. The proposal also includes a greater than 50% reduction to Science Planning and Research Support, which supports NASA scientists’ participation in proposal peer review panels, decadal surveys, and National Academies studies. It does propose increases to the CubeSat program (aiming to select CubeSat activities at the rate of at least one per year), and Directed Research and Technology, stating that “in FY 2026, funds will also support workforce reshaping efforts.” The budget notes that a limited number of new awards will be selected from the ROSES 2025 and ROSES 2026 solicitations, “focusing on studies that advance fundamental understanding of the space environments of Earth, Moon, and Mars needed for enhanced technology operation and human exploration in these environments.” ROSES-25 selections are expected in Q2 of FY26, suggesting that the solicitation will be available in the coming months.
• Living with a Star
  The budget proposes terminating the Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC) project and conducting an orderly shutdown. It states that “NASA will explore other ways of meeting the science goals relevant to the space weather operational and user communities.” It also reduces funding for missions in extended operations (Parker Solar Probe, Solar Orbiter, and Solar Dynamics Observatory). Parker Solar Probe and the Solar Dynamics Observatory will be considered in the 2026 Senior Review, while Solar Orbiter’s prime mission phase will continue until May 2027, when the spacecraft will have completed thirteen orbits around the Sun.
• Solar Terrestrial Probes
  The budget suggests the cancellation of a number of operating missions, including MMS, Hinode and TIMED, while moving the STEREO mission into the Space Weather program. Solar Terrestrial Probe Future Missions is also zeroed out. It notes that NASA will consolidate the Solar Terrestrial Program Management with program management for the Living With a Star program. There are no major changes suggested for IMAP and Carruthers, which will launch in FY26.
• Heliophysics Explorer
  EUVST and HelioSwarm are terminated, and missions past their prime mission, including GOLD, IRIS, THEMIS, and ACE, will implement mission closeout. Funding is also zeroed out for AIM, IBEX, and ICON, while AWE will complete prime operations in Q2 of FY26 and is proposed to initiate mission closeout immediately afterwards. MUSE, EZIE, PUNCH, TRACERS, and ESCAPADE are all recommended to proceed with no major changes. Finally, the request states that NASA will cancel the MIDEX Announcement of Opportunity planned for FY 2026, but that they expect to announce final selection for the 2022 SMEX AO no earlier than Q3 FY2025.
• Space Weather
  The budget provides the highest-ever proposed amount for the Space Weather program, but this is because of the transfer of SOHO and STEREO into the program. The request supports the development of the Joint Extreme ultraviolet coronal Diagnostic Investigation (JEDI) instrument for ESA's Vigil space weather mission and supports, in collaboration with agency partners, capacity-building efforts for the research and end-user communities in space weather. Given the cancellation of the Lunar Gateway, the budget suggests reformulating HERMES for a future commercial mission to Mars, where it will characterize the causes of space weather variability. The budget indicates strong support for the Space Weather Research-to-Operations-to-Research process, including through partnerships with the Department of Defense. It notes planned solicitations for Ideas Labs and an Open Call to support the transition of scientific knowledge into the hands of space weather forecasters and other end users, as well as space weather tabletop exercises and continued interagency coordination on the National Space Weather Strategy and Action Plan.
• Heliophysics Technology
  The budget makes significant reductions “given higher priorities within the agency.” This includes the elimination of Technology Analysis and Mission Design program element and the Heliophysics Strategic Technology Office. NASA will no longer solicit proposals for the Heliophysics Flight Opportunities Studies competition.

Planetary Science

The proposed budget cut of 32% (from $2.8 billion to $1.9 billion) includes the cancellation of the Mars Sample Return Program as well as the elimination of missions like DAVINCI, VERITAS, EnVision, New Horizons, Juno, OSIRIS-APEX, and others. The budget suggests reducing peer-reviewed science in Planetary Science Reseach and Analysis by 20% to achieve cost savings.

• Planetary Science Research
  The budget request proposes reducing funding for Research and Analysis by 20%. It also reduces funding for the High-End Computing Capability (which is transferred from the Earth Science Research program), and the Scientific Artificial Intelligence, Data & Analytics (SAIDA) portfolio (renamed from the OpenSource Science Initiative). The report notes that "SAIDA achieves cost savings by consolidating multiple cloud environments and using AI to support the stewardship, management, and governance of NASA's scientific data for all SMD divisions.” The Planetary Science Directed Research and Technology gets funded at $52M for workforce reshaping efforts in FY26. Finally, the request notes that the ROSES-2025 NASA Research Announcement solicitation will be released in June 2025, with selection in Q2 of FY26.
• Planetary Defense
  The budget proposes an increase in funding, from $296.7 million to $304.2 million. This does include a budget reduction for the NEO Surveyor mission, “due to the excellent cost performance and early retirement of risks with no impact to the planned launch readiness date.” The Near-Earth Object Observations (NEOO) project, which funds and coordinates efforts across multiple agencies and space institutions to find, track, and characterize any asteroid or comet that could become an impact hazard to Earth, also sees a budget reduction from $41 million to $38 million.
• Lunar Discovery and Exploration
  NASA transfers the management and budget of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) to the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate. The budget reduces funding for Development and Advancement of Lunar Instruments projects and does not fund the Lunar Future project until future years. NASA established a new project within this program: The Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon: Stand Alone Landing Site Agnostic (PRISM SALSA) project, which enables stand-alone instruments whose science may be completed at any lunar surface destination. VIPER and Lunar Trailblazer are zeroed out (the latter due to the loss of contact with the spacecraft). In FY26, LDEP will complete a delivery for integration payloads for four CLPS deliveries, including Lunar Vertex and LuSEE-Night
• Discovery
  The DAVINCI, VERITAS, and EnVision missions are eliminated. No funding is provided for the Venus Technology project and funding is reduced for peer-reviewed science in Discovery Research. Psyche will begin the second phase of testing of the Deep Space Optical Communication technology demonstration in 2026, and JAXA will launch the MEGANE instrument and P-Sampler technology demonstration on the MMX spacecraft (currently scheduled for launch in October 2026). Per this budget request, the next Discovery Announcement of Opportunity will be no earlier than 2027.
• New Frontiers
  Funding is increased for Dragonfly, consistent with the budget approved at mission confirmation, with the project expected to move to the start of Integration and Test in FY27. Reductions are suggested to peer-reviewed science in New Frontiers Research. New Horizons and Juno (operating missions that have completed their prime missions), as well as OSIRIS-Apophis Explorer, are terminated. The draft of the New Frontiers 5 Announcement of Opportunity will be in Q3 of 2025, with the solicitation released no earlier than 2026.
• Mars Exploration
  This program receives an increase in budget, from $255 million to $271 million. This is primarily driven by a very large increase in the Mars Future Missions program, from $5.1 million to $110 million, used to fund a new Commercial Mars Payload Services program, similar to the existing Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. The budget notes that this is intended to “establish a regular cadence of science-driven, lower cost mission and hosted instrument opportunities which will conduct robotic science investigations to prepare for the arrival of humans on the Martian surface.” The first hosted instruments and payloads ($25-$35M each) will likely be delivered by this program, with the launch targeted for 2028. A low-cost mission solicitation will be released in October 2026, targeting a 2030 launch, with a $200M lifecycle cost (excluding launch). However, the Mars Exploration program also faces a reduction in peer-reviewed science under Mars Research and Analysis, and the budget proposes eliminating funding for Mars Odyssey and Mars Express, Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN), and NASA contributions to the ESA Rosalind Franklin ExoMars Rover mission (ROSA). Despite zeroing out the funding for the Mars Technology program, the budget request notes that NASA will initiate in FY 2025 studies and technology development in support of "Exploring Mars Together: Mars Exploration Program Future Plan, 2024-2044."
• Mars Sample Return
  The budget proposes terminating the Mars Sample Return program, noting that “current architecture options remain unaffordable. The project will halt formulation activities and begin termination of all procurements. It is anticipated that future missions to Mars will return samples for study on Earth.”
• Outer Planets and Ocean Worlds
  The budget includes a proposed reduction to peer-reviewed science in Outer Planets Research. It does add additional funds to support Europa Clipper operations, and it provides funding for the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer.
• Radioisotope Power Systems
  While many planetary science missions rely on radioisotope power systems, the budget suggests reductions to all elements of this program, such as mission integration activities, including Next Gen Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) industry sustainment, RTG power prediction model validation and updates, and long-term thermoelectric testing. This budget does provide funding to complete the power source for Dragonfly, the MultiMission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG), including funds to DoE Operations & Analysis for the required plutonium.

NSF

The NSF budget request has a 56.9% reduction in discretionary spending, from $9.06 billion in the FY24 operating plan to $3.9 billion in FY26. At the agency-wide level, the research grant success rate is projected to drop from 24% (estimated for FY24) to 6% in FY26. The agency also provides forecasts of the number of people at various career stages involved in NSF activities, with an overall reduction from 330,100 people estimated to be involved in FY24 to just 90,000 in FY26. This includes a 72% decrease at the senior researcher level, a 82% decrease at the postdoc level, a 70% decrease in graduate students, a 79% decrease in undergraduate students, and 81% and 69% decreases in PreK-12 teachers and students respectively.

The budget request states that “the National Science Foundation’s FY 2026 Budget Request of $3.903 billion reflects a strategic alignment of resources in a constrained fiscal environment. NSF is prioritizing investments that complement private-sector R&D and offer strong potential to drive economic growth and strengthen US technological leadership. This approach ensures public funding is directed toward areas where it can have the greatest national impact.”

The critical activities that are listed as priorities in the budget are Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Information Science, and the Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships. The budget request also highlights continued investments in key areas, namely Biotechnology, Advanced Manufacturing, Microelectronics and Semiconductors, Advanced Wireless, Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Office, CybersCorps: Scholarship for Service, HBCU-Undergraduate Program, (HBCU-UP) HBCU-Excellence in Research Program (HBCU-EiR), and the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP).

Research and Related Activities

Overall, Research and Related Activities (R&RA) at NSF gets a proposed 60.8% cut, from $8.3 billion in FY24 to $5.1 billion in FY26. The NSF-wide Mid-scale Research Infrastructure program (under R&RA), which funds projects between $4 million and $20 million, is zeroed out, and the Directorate Midscale Research Infrastructure Programs are reduced by 59.4%.

• Mathematical and Physical Sciences
  The budget includes a $1 billion cut (67%) to the MPS Directorate, with an FY26 request of $515 million. Within the directorate, research activities are cut by 75%, from $1.1 billion to $273 million. Education activities are completely defunded. Infrastructure receives a 42% cut, from $415 million to $241 million. ​​Funding for Artificial Intelligence projects within MPS is increased by $17 million (23%). The Spectrum Innovation Initiative Center program within MPS is zeroed out. The budget request states the following:
  “In FY 2026, MPS will continue to align its funding with NSF and Administration priorities, highlighted but not limited to the following three areas:
  • Strengthening investments under the theme of AI for Sciences and the Science of AI. MPS will support the National AI Institutes, the development of science-driven AI technologies, and investigate their theoretical underpinning in collaboration with other federal agencies and private foundations.
  • Sustaining investments in Quantum Information Science and Technology through supporting the Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes, National Quantum Virtual Laboratory, research centers, and transdisciplinary research in quantum computing, quantum materials, quantum networking, quantum sensing, and quantum simulations. MPS will strategically invest in this research through collaborations with other federal agencies, industry, and private foundations.
  • Continuing investments towards research on the chemical, mathematical, and physical foundations of biotechnology and their applications, in collaboration with other federal agencies, industry, and private foundations.”
• Office of Polar Programs
  The Directorate for Geosciences houses the Office of Polar Programs (OPP), which supports scientific research related to and at polar regions, such as Antarctic facilities. The budget suggests an 11% cut to OPP, from $560 million to $497 million.
• Workforce Development
  The budget proposes eliminating or significantly reducing most fellowships and broadening participation programs. This includes termination of the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs, a 55% cut to the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), and the cancellation of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship (AAPF) and the MPS-ASCEND Postdoctoral Fellowship. The only non-terminated postdoctoral programs are the Entrepreneural Fellowships and Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences postdoc fellowship for fundamental research (SPRF-Fundamental Research). The budget request also cancels many workforce development programs because of their broadening participation components, including the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP), MPS Partnerships for Research & Education, and many, many others. The only non-terminated broadening participation programs are HBCU-UP, HBCU-EIR, TCUP and EPSCoR (which is reduced by 57%, approximately tracking the reduction to R&RA).
• Operations and Maintenance of Major Facilities
  In terms of major facilities, including existing facilities, facilities under construction, and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), the budget request states that NSF will emphasize Operations & Management support for its highest priority infrastructure, including the US Antarctic Program, and world-leading optical (Vera C. Rubin Observatory) and radio (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) astronomy facilities, among others. The budget further states that “a second tier of infrastructure will be supported at a substantially reduced level, which will enable continued delivery of significant scientific outcomes, albeit at a diminished rate. A final group of facilities will be funded at a level that enables only limited FY 2026 activity with the intent to proceed with eventual disposition (closure or divestment) of the infrastructure.” ​​​​In practice, this means:
  • The Vera C. Rubin Observatory gets an 81% increase, from $17.7 million to $32 million. However, this is actually 20% less funding than Rubin Observatory was expecting to receive this year as it begins operations.
  • LIGO has a proposed 39.6% cut from $48 million to $29 million. The budget request notes that this means in FY26, NSF will operate only one of the two LIGO sites and will support a reduced level for technology development.
  • NOIRLab FFRDC is cut by 19.8% from $66 million to $53 million, Operations & Management (Mid-Scale Observatories and Community Science and Data Center) is cut by 74.7% from $24 million to $6 million, and Gemini Observatory O&M is cut by 39.3% from $25 million to $15 million. The budget request states that “at the FY 2026 Budget Request level, the Gemini telescopes will operate at approximately 50% capacity and access to the telescopes at Kitt Peak and Cerro Tololo will be phased out. NSF will begin transferring ownership and operations of these telescopes to other agencies or academic institutions.”
  • The NRAO FFRDC is cut by 34.2% (from $108 million to $71 million). NRAO O&M is cut by 44.9% (from $44 million to $24 million), ALMA O&M is cut by 19.6% (from $55 million to $44 million) and Green Bank Observatory is cut by 68.6% from $10 million to $3 million. The VLBA will continue to be funded jointly with the US Naval Observatory. The budget states that the remaining components of NRAO, including the Very Large Array and Central Development Laboratory, will operate at reduced levels of service at the FY26 Budget level.
  • The National Solar Observatory FFRDC is cut by 38.6% (from $28 million to $17 million). NSO O&M gets a 35.9% cut from $6 million to $4 million. Although the budget request states that “at the FY 2026 Budget request level, NSF will continue the commissioning of Inouye and its data center,” the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope is cut by 39.3% from $21 million to $13 million.
  • Regarding the US Antarctic Program, the budget request states that “at the FY 2026 Budget level, NSF will continue to operate all three stations (McMurdo, Amundsen-Scott South Pole and Palmer), to support the conduct of long-term research projects, and to carry out recapitalization work that will make the USAP more efficient and effective. To focus support on the stations and associated logistics, NSF intends to terminate the lease of the research vessel Nathaniel B. Palmer in FY 2026.”
  • The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is cut by 49.6%, from $8 million to $4 million, noting that “operations will continue with a reduction in staff deploying to Antarctica and minimal maintenance activities.”
  • Funding for the participation of US researchers in Large Hadron Collider research through ATLAS and CMS is cut by 41.5% (from $20.5 million to $12 million). The budget request states “participation of U.S. researchers in LHC research will be commensurately reduced, and NSF expects similar reductions for software and computing capability for analysis.”

Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction

Although zeroed out in FY25 (due to being categorized as emergency spending in FY24), the Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) account gets a 7.3% increase in FY26, from $234 million in FY24 to $251 million in FY26. This primarily funds the Leadership-Class Computing Facility (LCCF) at $201 million, with $24 million for Antarctic Infrastructure Recapitalization and $25 million for Mid-scale Research Infrastructure (funding projects between $4 million and $100 million). $1 million is provided for Dedicated Construction Oversight.

• Extremely Large Telescope Program
  The budget request states that “given the unaffordability of continuing funding two different multi-billion dollar telescopes, NSF will advance the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) into the Major Facility Final Design Phase, but the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) will not advance to the Final Design Phase and will not receive additional commitment of funds from NSF. NSF has received assurances from the GMT project that it can complete the final design phase without further investments. Moving into the final design phase does not guarantee that a project will be approved for construction, and doing so does not obligate the agency to provide any further funding. The FY 2026 Request supports continued design of a single telescope within the US Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) program.”

Other Agencies

At the moment, we have limited information about astronomy and physics programs (such as Cosmic Frontier) within DOE Office of Science. The High Energy Physics (HEP) Program (which houses Cosmic Frontier) receives a 7.2% cut, from $1.2 million to $1.1 million. The DOE budget request notes that the request funds, among other things, “core research activities, with emphasis on the physics of the Higgs boson, neutrinos, dark matter, and dark energy; exploring the unknown; and enabling early and visible scientific results from HEP project investments.”

As of 4 June, detailed budget requests are not available for the Department of Commerce, including NIST and NOAA.

We will publish a new blog post regarding the DOE and Department of Commerce budgets when they become available.